NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers secured the 2024 World Series title Wednesday night with some help from two Kentucky natives.
Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler fired a 78 mph knuckle-curve to catcher Will Smith to strike out Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo and record the final out of the series-clinching Game 5.
It was the franchise's eighth World Series title and second since 2020.
Buehler grew up in Lexington and attended Henry Clay High School. He went on to play at Vanderbilt before making his Major League Baseball debut for the Dodgers in 2017.
Smith grew up in Louisville and attended Kentucky Country Day School. He played for the University of Louisville and made his MLB and Dodger debut in 2019.
Buehler has been a starter his entire MLB career, but was asked to close out Game 5 just two days after throwing 76 pitches across five shutout innings in Game 3. He threw a perfect inning Wednesday, allowing no baserunners and striking out two.
Buehler was asked postgame by Sports Illustrated if this was his best day in baseball.
"Yeah I think so," he said. "Two days ago was pretty fun too."
This was Buehler's first season back after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. He struggled for the most of the season, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA.
He was clutch in the postseason however, and did not allow a run over 10 NCLS and World Series innings.
Smith batted .248 and hit 20 home runs in the regular season. He homered in Game 4 of the World Series.
This is the second year in a row a Louisville native played in the World Series. Bellarmine University alum Brandon Pfaadt started Game 3 of last year's Fall Classic for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
